Helping Sheep? Or Helping Sheep?

 

The devotions included here can be seen as a play on words - Helping sheep?  Or is it helping sheep?

It will make more sense when you read it.  Either way, it is about stewardship. How are we being good stewards of what God has entrusted to us? I am pleased to share with you our weekly update on Good Gifts, the ELCA Global Mission program to help feed the hungry and give assistance and hope to those in need. Because of the generosity of the members of Epiphany Lutheran Church, the gifts given continue to grow. Thank you for your gifts!

 

A devotion from Bill Lynch:

 

Matthew 12:11

He said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out?

It's a chance to do some good. Why let the chance go by for now? This verse is surrounded, once again by the Pharisees attempt to bring charges against Jesus’ teachings. The controversy was around the laws of the Sabbath. There was some disagreement in the answer to this question. In Galilee the answer would have been yes, however in Qumran the answer would have been no. 

The controversy of this question is surrounded in the context of this verse. Jesus and his disciples grew hungry on the Sabbath. They plucked some ears of grain and ate them. When the Pharisees observed what was done, they told Jesus that his disciples were doing what was not lawful to do on the Sabbath. Jesus then, recounted an Old Testament story of David and his men, being hungry on the Sabbath, stopping and eating the bread of the Presence because they were famished. This was unlawful also for David because only the priests could enter the Temple and eat this bread.

Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees that he was greater than the Sabbath. Imagine how this went over with the Pharisees. Jesus continued on into the synagogue and was about to heal a man with a withered hand. So, Jesus was asked if it was legal to heal on the Sabbath.

Heal a man, or rescue a sheep on the Sabbath. It was proper to rescue a sheep in some places, so why wouldn’t it be proper to heal on the Sabbath? Jesus is all about healing and saving. So he healed the man.  So, what about the law? It’s lawful to do good any time! 

The sheep in this story were an example of the need of mercy. We, likewise as the sheep, are examples of the need of mercy. God sent his son into this world to rescue us. We are sunk deep into the pit of selfishness, sin, death and evil. We need God to rescue us! We need Jesus to save us, Sabbath day or any time. We need Jesus! Jesus comes to rescue us, his sheep, and saves us.

In a similar way, we have an opportunity to give to another in need of help. The warm and durable wool from sheep is especially valuable for a family living in poverty. Wool can be easily made into hats, sweaters, coats and blankets to keep family members warm and dry. These products—and even the wool itself—can be sold at the local market for extra income. And what’s more, sheep’s milk can be used to make nutritious dairy products. For $125 you can give to another in need and give the gift of sheep through the ELCA Good Gifts Catalogue. Do it anytime and on any day. After all… It’s lawful to do good any time! Aren’t we all so blessed to have Jesus? Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord; may I recognize the sheep in the pit on any day and loving give and help out. --- Amen


Total Gifts Given - 136 (our goal is 300!)
Dollar Amount of Gifts Given PLUS Wednesday Night Offerings- $4,516

Global Barnyard
	19	Goats
	25	Chicks
	13	Pigs
	15	Ducks
	2	Sheep
	1	Fish Pond
Water
	4	Water Jugs
	2	Set of Water Purification Tablets
Health Care
	6	Health/Dental Kits
	12	Child Vaccinations
Malaria
	10	Mosquito Nets
	1	Malaria Protection Women and Children
	2	Medicine to Treat Malaria Patients
Agriculture
	3	Fruit Tree Seedlings and Farm Tools
Grow the Church
	6	Bible and Hymnal
Women and Children
	2	Food -Orphan
	8	Textbooks for Children
	3	Food for 10 soup kitchen
	1	Microlean
	1	School Fees for Children

Thank you for you continued efforts!

Peace
Pastor Charlie

 

 

Water

When Lawrence of Arabia was in Parisafter World War I with some of his Arab friends, he showed them the sights of the city, but do you know what impressed them the most - it was the faucet in the hotel bathtub. They spent much of their time turning the faucets off and on. They were amazed that they could get all the water they wanted with just the turn of a knob. As they were preparing to leave the hotel & return to the East, Lawrence found them in the bathroom with wrenches trying to disconnect the faucets. They thought if they took the faucets home with them, they would have all the water they wanted.

Lawrence had to explain to them that it wasn't the faucets that provided the water, it was the massive reservoirs to which they were attached. That's the way it is with our Christian lives. Like the faucets are useless without the reservoir. Our lives are useless without Christ – how important it is to be connected to the living water that flows from the grace of God.

Water is essential for life. Through the ELCA Good Gifts program, the gift of water is one of the many gifts we can offer.

A Devotion from Bill Lynch

Revelation 22:1-2

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Oh how we long for that pure water. We long for water that is crystal clear and pure. Water flowing like the water in the Garden of Eden, a river that fed the garden and produced luscious vegetation. Perhaps the river would be like the river in Ezekiel that flows to the Dead Sea and makes it fresh and alive with fish. Yes, we long for the pure water of God. Pure water pouring over our head and into our heart and soul.

Imagine a river of this pure, fresh, life giving water feeding the trees that stand on both sides of the banks. The trees flourish and come to life with fruit that heals the world, a fruit of love, one for another, a fruit that is a gift from God. Imagine the leaves of the trees having a healing power that gives life.

So what? So what can we do with this image, this passage of healing, life and pure water? You have been given this life and pure water. You have been given this healing. A gift given to you that you can use to show love to another person walking this planet. Yet, it's even a gift you can give that multiplies and feeds many people. Through ELCA Good Gifts for $100 you can give a grove of ten fruit tree seedlings that will provide children and families with fruit to stay healthy and nourished. A gift washed in the waters of your baptism into the love of God to those in need. It's but one step towards that vision of Revelation 22, a vision of life and hope and love and salvation straight from the throne of God.

Prayer

Lord; use the gifts you have given me in this life to give to those in need. Wash me over, under and through with your pure water and use me to distribute the healing leave of life, only you can supply, to the entire world. --- Amen

Thank you for your continued support of Good Gifts during this season of Lent. Here is the latest update as of March 2nd.

Total Gifts Given - 78 (our goal is 300!)
Dollar Amount of Gifts Given PLUS Wednesday Night Offerings- $2,855

 

Global Barnyard
	11	Goats
	16	Chicks
	7	Pigs
	14	Ducks
	1	Sheep
	1	Fish Pond
Water
	1	Water Jug
	1	Set of Water Purification Tablets
Health Care
	3	Health/Dental Kit
	5	Child Vaccinations
Malaria
	1	Mosquito Net
	1	Malaria Protection Women and Children
	2	Medicine to Treat Malaria Patients
Agriculture
	2	Fruit Tree Seedling
Grow the Church
	6	Bible and Hymnal
Women and Children
	1	Food -Orphan
	1	Textbooks for Children
	2	Food for 10 soup kitchen
	1	Microlean
	1	School Fees for Children

Thank you for you continued efforts!

Peace
Pastor Charlie